What Beauty Routines Are Worth It To You?
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Here's a fun little question for today: what beauty or self-maintenance routines actually feel worth it to you these days?
I'm thinking mostly about recurring appointments and upkeep like hair color, facials, Botox, massages, manicures, waxing, lashes, laser treatments, etc. — but I'd also love to hear about anything else that takes regular time, money, or effort and still earns a permanent place in your routine.
Do you:
- color your hair or get root touchups regularly?
- get massages, facials, or other wellness appointments?
- do Botox or other anti-aging treatments? (here's a link to our last discussion on “aging intentionally“)
- keep up with manicures, lashes, waxing, threading, or similar salon maintenance?
- have any standing appointments that take real logistical effort but still feel worth it?
- used to do more upkeep than you do now?
I feel like my own routines have changed a lot over the years. This is partly because life got busier, partly because priorities changed, and partly because aging itself changes the equation. I still love the idea of regular massages, for example, but I get them very irregularly. I used to thread my eyebrows every 6 weeks or so, but one of the strange “perks” of aging is that there's simply less hair growth to manage. Other maintenance issues went away due to choices I made — my laser hair removal worked so well that I almost never think about shaving anymore.
Have your routines changed over time? Have you streamlined things intentionally, or are there services/products you now consider absolutely worth the upkeep?
I get my hair cut about 3 times a year. Otherwise, nothing beyond day-to-day stuff (shaving, home blow out, make up). I’m on the verge of adding a Botox routine, I think. (but it’s so expensive!) Also really tempted to try home eyelash extensions. I hate having to go out for things like that
Same—I refuse to do anything that keeps me on a maintenance schedule. I do get a somewhat expensive moisturizer that I doctor with almond oil. This is the one regular expense I’m ok w.
The only thing I schedule are hair cuts & colors.
Used to do weekly manis and summer biweekly pedis, but got good enough at DIYing during Covid that now I don’t really like getting them done professionally anymore. Someone here described it as “a dentist appointment for your nails” and that is so true.
Oh, that’s how I feel, too! I like my hairdresser a lot so I’ve gotten more comfortable with her, but it’s still a chore. I don’t enjoy staying still while people touch me. I got a massage once and felt completely awkward (and my brain would not shut up) the whole time.
Getting my underarms waxed. I stopped shaving my legs after a year or so in my teen-age years, and I never really needed to in the first place. I didn’t know that the underarm hair would grow back so light and fine –so I can go much longer between waxes than I used to when I shaved.
It’s totally worth it, because my esthetician and I have known each other for so many years now, and she does my eye brows for free!
Underarm waxing is the best! This and hair color touchups are the only maintenance I schedule and do on the regular. I can do my own nails, and haircuts happen haphazardly whenever I look in the mirror and think, “It’s time!”
I’m too low maintenance now and trying to get back to caring – I started cutting my own hair during Covid and because I wear it curly it really doesn’t matter. 5 minutes in the shower versus 3.5 hours at my cousin’s salon. (yes i think she’s still salty about my leaving.)
trying to get into doing my own nails more because they’re starting to yellow and be gross, yay aging. (also asking the doctor about when i see her Friday.)
I’m pretty middle of the road, I think?
I get may hair cut and colored regularly, but it’s mostly because i am covering grays in my early 40s. I use a root spray to stretch out visits, and I probably go every 8 weeks or so.
I also get a monthly manicure. Nothing wild – just a gel overlay on my nails and a solid color. I was a nail biter for years and my natural nails are really flexible, so geting the overlay has improved the way my hands look and just makes me feel good.
Otherwise I am just doing home maintenance for skincare, etc. At 42 I’ve decided that bigger interventions aren’t worth it to me.
I’m 41, so here are the things I did in my 20s and 30s, but don’t anymore:
Regular manicures and pedicures (I got really good at doing this myself during covid)
Eyebrow tinting (I still get them threaded, but a box of Just for Men beard dye lasts me 3-4 months)
Waxing (laser hair removal was super effective)
Facials (I just don’t have the time)
Hair color (this may change when I get more grays)
I still get my hair cut every 8-10 weeks and I spend money on good skincare products that work for me. I also get much more consistent sleep than I did 5-10 years ago, so I think I’m actually looking better than I did in my 30s.
43 here, and am definitely looking better than I did in my 30s.